This book is aimed at students who have completed a final year undergraduate course on general relativity and supplemented it with additional techniques by individual study or in a taught MSc ...
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This book is aimed at students who have completed a final year undergraduate course on general relativity and supplemented it with additional techniques by individual study or in a taught MSc programme. The additional technical knowledge required involves the Cartan calculus, the tetrad formalism including aspects of the Newman–Penrose formalism, the Ehlers–Sachs theory of null geodesic congruences, and the Petrov classification of gravitational fields. Each chapter could be used as a basis for an advanced undergraduate or early postgraduate project. The topics covered fall under three general headings: Gravitational waves in vacuo and in a cosmological setting, equations of motion with particular emphasis on spinning particles, and black holes. These are not individual applications of the techniques mentioned above. The techniques are available for use in whole or in part (mainly in part) as each situation demands.Less

Claude BarrabèsPeter A. Hogan

Published in print: 2013-05-23

This book is aimed at students who have completed a final year undergraduate course on general relativity and supplemented it with additional techniques by individual study or in a taught MSc programme. The additional technical knowledge required involves the Cartan calculus, the tetrad formalism including aspects of the Newman–Penrose formalism, the Ehlers–Sachs theory of null geodesic congruences, and the Petrov classification of gravitational fields. Each chapter could be used as a basis for an advanced undergraduate or early postgraduate project. The topics covered fall under three general headings: Gravitational waves in vacuo and in a cosmological setting, equations of motion with particular emphasis on spinning particles, and black holes. These are not individual applications of the techniques mentioned above. The techniques are available for use in whole or in part (mainly in part) as each situation demands.

The fascinating discoveries of the new fields of quantum information, quantum computation, and quantum cryptography are brought to life in this book in a way that is accessible and interesting to a ...
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The fascinating discoveries of the new fields of quantum information, quantum computation, and quantum cryptography are brought to life in this book in a way that is accessible and interesting to a wide range of readers, not just the experts. From a modern perspective, the characteristic feature of quantum mechanics is the existence of strangely counterintuitive correlations between distant events, which can be exploited in feats like quantum teleportation, unbreakable cryptographic schemes, and computers with enormously enhanced computing power. Schrödinger coined the term “entanglement” to describe these bizarre correlations, which show up in the random outcomes of different measurements on separated quantum systems. Bananaworld – an imaginary island with entangled bananas – is used to discuss sophisticated quantum phenomena without the mathematical machinery of quantum mechanics. As far as the conceptual problems of the theory that philosophers worry about are concerned, one might as well talk about bananas rather than quantum states. Nevertheless, the connection with quantum correlations is fully explained in sections written for the non-physicist reader with a serious interest in understanding the mysteries of the quantum world. The result is a subversive but entertaining book, with the novel thesis that quantum mechanics is about the structure of information, and what we have discovered is that the possibilities for representing, manipulating, and communicating information are different than we thought.Less

Bananaworld : Quantum Mechanics for Primates

Jeffrey Bub

Published in print: 2016-02-11

The fascinating discoveries of the new fields of quantum information, quantum computation, and quantum cryptography are brought to life in this book in a way that is accessible and interesting to a wide range of readers, not just the experts. From a modern perspective, the characteristic feature of quantum mechanics is the existence of strangely counterintuitive correlations between distant events, which can be exploited in feats like quantum teleportation, unbreakable cryptographic schemes, and computers with enormously enhanced computing power. Schrödinger coined the term “entanglement” to describe these bizarre correlations, which show up in the random outcomes of different measurements on separated quantum systems. Bananaworld – an imaginary island with entangled bananas – is used to discuss sophisticated quantum phenomena without the mathematical machinery of quantum mechanics. As far as the conceptual problems of the theory that philosophers worry about are concerned, one might as well talk about bananas rather than quantum states. Nevertheless, the connection with quantum correlations is fully explained in sections written for the non-physicist reader with a serious interest in understanding the mysteries of the quantum world. The result is a subversive but entertaining book, with the novel thesis that quantum mechanics is about the structure of information, and what we have discovered is that the possibilities for representing, manipulating, and communicating information are different than we thought.

This book is about ideas and themes in physics. A small set of them apply over broad areas of physics, and in that wide reach lies some of the power, beauty, and attraction of the subject. Many ...
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This book is about ideas and themes in physics. A small set of them apply over broad areas of physics, and in that wide reach lies some of the power, beauty, and attraction of the subject. Many metaphors from ordinary language or other disciplines have been adopted by physicists, albeit with a specific and distinct flavour. The selection of topics reflects four decades in research physics. Each chapter, on themes such as dimensions, transformations, symmetries, or maps, begins with simple examples accessible to all; these are then connected to sophisticated realizations in more advanced topics of physics. Equations are used sparingly and only in the beginning examples, and around 70 drawings and figures illustrate the concepts and phenomena discussed. While mathematics is its natural language, physics is mostly about patterns, connections, and relations between objects and phenomena, and it is this aspect that is emphasized throughout. Complementary representations or descriptions, and seeing the world from different points of view are continuing themes. Historical footnotes on great physicists (and others) and their contributions to the subject are provided.Less

The Beauty of Physics : Patterns, Principles, and Perspectives

A. R. P. Rau

Published in print: 2014-09-25

This book is about ideas and themes in physics. A small set of them apply over broad areas of physics, and in that wide reach lies some of the power, beauty, and attraction of the subject. Many metaphors from ordinary language or other disciplines have been adopted by physicists, albeit with a specific and distinct flavour. The selection of topics reflects four decades in research physics. Each chapter, on themes such as dimensions, transformations, symmetries, or maps, begins with simple examples accessible to all; these are then connected to sophisticated realizations in more advanced topics of physics. Equations are used sparingly and only in the beginning examples, and around 70 drawings and figures illustrate the concepts and phenomena discussed. While mathematics is its natural language, physics is mostly about patterns, connections, and relations between objects and phenomena, and it is this aspect that is emphasized throughout. Complementary representations or descriptions, and seeing the world from different points of view are continuing themes. Historical footnotes on great physicists (and others) and their contributions to the subject are provided.

Particle physics is the science that pursues the age-old quest for the innermost structure of matter and the fundamental interactions between its constituents. Modern experiments in this field rely ...
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Particle physics is the science that pursues the age-old quest for the innermost structure of matter and the fundamental interactions between its constituents. Modern experiments in this field rely increasingly on calorimetry, a detection technique in which the particles of interest are absorbed in the detector. Calorimeters are very intricate instruments, their performance characteristics depend in subtle, sometimes counter-intuitive ways on design details. This book, written by one of the world's foremost experts, is the only comprehensive text on this topic. It provides a fundamental and systematic introduction, in which many intriguing calorimeter features are explained. It also describes the state-of-the-art, both for what concerns the fundamental understanding of calorimetric particle detection and the actual detectors that have been or are being built and operated in experiments. In the last chapter, some landmark scientific discoveries in which calorimetry has played an important role are discussed. This book summarizes and puts in perspective work described in some 900 scientific papers, listed in the bibliography. This second edition emphasizes new developments that have taken place since the the first edition appeared (2000).Less

Calorimetry : Energy Measurement in Particle Physics

Richard Wigmans

Published in print: 2017-09-14

Particle physics is the science that pursues the age-old quest for the innermost structure of matter and the fundamental interactions between its constituents. Modern experiments in this field rely increasingly on calorimetry, a detection technique in which the particles of interest are absorbed in the detector. Calorimeters are very intricate instruments, their performance characteristics depend in subtle, sometimes counter-intuitive ways on design details. This book, written by one of the world's foremost experts, is the only comprehensive text on this topic. It provides a fundamental and systematic introduction, in which many intriguing calorimeter features are explained. It also describes the state-of-the-art, both for what concerns the fundamental understanding of calorimetric particle detection and the actual detectors that have been or are being built and operated in experiments. In the last chapter, some landmark scientific discoveries in which calorimetry has played an important role are discussed. This book summarizes and puts in perspective work described in some 900 scientific papers, listed in the bibliography. This second edition emphasizes new developments that have taken place since the the first edition appeared (2000).

In recent years, the old idea that gauge theories and string theories are equivalent has been implemented and developed in various ways, and there are by now various models where the string ...
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In recent years, the old idea that gauge theories and string theories are equivalent has been implemented and developed in various ways, and there are by now various models where the string theory/gauge theory correspondence is at work. One of the most important examples of this correspondence relates Chern-Simons theory, a topological gauge theory in three dimensions which describes knot and three-manifold invariants, to topological string theory, which is deeply related to Gromov-Witten invariants. This has led to some surprising relations between three-manifold geometry and enumerative geometry. This book gives the first presentation of this and other related topics. After an introduction to matrix models and Chern-Simons theory, the book describes in detail the topological string theories that correspond to these gauge theories and develops the mathematical implications of this duality for the enumerative geometry of Calabi-Yau manifolds and knot theory.Less

Chern-Simons Theory, Matrix Models, and Topological Strings

Marcos Mariño

Published in print: 2005-09-22

In recent years, the old idea that gauge theories and string theories are equivalent has been implemented and developed in various ways, and there are by now various models where the string theory/gauge theory correspondence is at work. One of the most important examples of this correspondence relates Chern-Simons theory, a topological gauge theory in three dimensions which describes knot and three-manifold invariants, to topological string theory, which is deeply related to Gromov-Witten invariants. This has led to some surprising relations between three-manifold geometry and enumerative geometry. This book gives the first presentation of this and other related topics. After an introduction to matrix models and Chern-Simons theory, the book describes in detail the topological string theories that correspond to these gauge theories and develops the mathematical implications of this duality for the enumerative geometry of Calabi-Yau manifolds and knot theory.

This book introduces Einstein’s general theory of relativity. Topics include the geometric formulation of special relativity, the principle of equivalence, the Einstein field equation and its ...
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This book introduces Einstein’s general theory of relativity. Topics include the geometric formulation of special relativity, the principle of equivalence, the Einstein field equation and its spherical solution, and black holes, as well as cosmology. The subject is presented with an emphasis on physical examples and simple applications without the full tensor apparatus (although, for those wishing to have a glimpse at the proper tensor formulation of Einstein’s field equation, this is presented in a final chapter). The reader first learns the physics of the equivalence principle and how it inspired Einstein’s idea of curved spacetime as the gravitational field. At the mathematically more accessible level of a metric description of a warped space, the reader can already study many interesting phenomena, such as gravitational time dilation, GPS operation, light deflection, precession of Mercury’s perihelion, and black holes. Many modern topics in cosmology are discussed: from primordial inflation and the cosmic microwave background, to the dark energy that propels an accelerating universe.Less

A College Course on Relativity and Cosmology

Ta-Pei Cheng

Published in print: 2015-06-01

This book introduces Einstein’s general theory of relativity. Topics include the geometric formulation of special relativity, the principle of equivalence, the Einstein field equation and its spherical solution, and black holes, as well as cosmology. The subject is presented with an emphasis on physical examples and simple applications without the full tensor apparatus (although, for those wishing to have a glimpse at the proper tensor formulation of Einstein’s field equation, this is presented in a final chapter). The reader first learns the physics of the equivalence principle and how it inspired Einstein’s idea of curved spacetime as the gravitational field. At the mathematically more accessible level of a metric description of a warped space, the reader can already study many interesting phenomena, such as gravitational time dilation, GPS operation, light deflection, precession of Mercury’s perihelion, and black holes. Many modern topics in cosmology are discussed: from primordial inflation and the cosmic microwave background, to the dark energy that propels an accelerating universe.

This book is a historical account of how natural philosophers and scientists have endeavoured to understand the universe at large, first in a mythical and later in a scientific context. Starting with ...
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This book is a historical account of how natural philosophers and scientists have endeavoured to understand the universe at large, first in a mythical and later in a scientific context. Starting with the creation stories of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, the book covers all the major events in theoretical and observational cosmology, from Aristotle's cosmos over the Copernican revolution to the discovery of the accelerating universe in the late 1990s. The kind of cosmology it describes and analyses focuses on the physical and astronomical aspects, but these cannot always be separated from aspects of a philosophical and theological nature. The book presents cosmology as a subject including scientific as well as non-scientific dimensions, and tells the story of how it developed into a true science of the heavens. Contrary to most other books on the history of cosmology, it offers an integrated account of the development with emphasis on the modern Einsteinian and post-Einsteinian period. In addition, it pays attention not only to mainstream developments, but also to theories of the universe that are today considered to be blind alleys. Starting in the pre-literary era, the book carries the story of mankind's quest of understanding the universe onwards to the early years of the 21st century.Less

Conceptions of Cosmos : From Myths to the Accelerating Universe: A History of Cosmology

Helge S. Kragh

Published in print: 2006-12-07

This book is a historical account of how natural philosophers and scientists have endeavoured to understand the universe at large, first in a mythical and later in a scientific context. Starting with the creation stories of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, the book covers all the major events in theoretical and observational cosmology, from Aristotle's cosmos over the Copernican revolution to the discovery of the accelerating universe in the late 1990s. The kind of cosmology it describes and analyses focuses on the physical and astronomical aspects, but these cannot always be separated from aspects of a philosophical and theological nature. The book presents cosmology as a subject including scientific as well as non-scientific dimensions, and tells the story of how it developed into a true science of the heavens. Contrary to most other books on the history of cosmology, it offers an integrated account of the development with emphasis on the modern Einsteinian and post-Einsteinian period. In addition, it pays attention not only to mainstream developments, but also to theories of the universe that are today considered to be blind alleys. Starting in the pre-literary era, the book carries the story of mankind's quest of understanding the universe onwards to the early years of the 21st century.

An understanding of thermal physics is crucial to much of modern physics, chemistry, and engineering. This book provides a modern introduction to the main principles that are foundational to thermal ...
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An understanding of thermal physics is crucial to much of modern physics, chemistry, and engineering. This book provides a modern introduction to the main principles that are foundational to thermal physics, thermodynamics, and statistical mechanics. The key concepts are carefully presented in a clear way, and new ideas are illustrated with worked examples as well as a description of the historical background to their discovery. Applications are presented to subjects as diverse as stellar astrophysics, information and communication theory, condensed matter physics, and climate change. Each chapter concludes with detailed exercises. This second edition of the text maintains the structure and style of the first edition but extends its coverage of thermodynamics and statistical mechanics to include several new topics, including osmosis, diffusion problems, Bayes theorem, radiative transfer, the Ising model, and Monte Carlo methods. New examples and exercises have been added throughout.Less

Concepts in Thermal Physics

Stephen J. BlundellKatherine M. Blundell

Published in print: 2009-10-01

An understanding of thermal physics is crucial to much of modern physics, chemistry, and engineering. This book provides a modern introduction to the main principles that are foundational to thermal physics, thermodynamics, and statistical mechanics. The key concepts are carefully presented in a clear way, and new ideas are illustrated with worked examples as well as a description of the historical background to their discovery. Applications are presented to subjects as diverse as stellar astrophysics, information and communication theory, condensed matter physics, and climate change. Each chapter concludes with detailed exercises. This second edition of the text maintains the structure and style of the first edition but extends its coverage of thermodynamics and statistical mechanics to include several new topics, including osmosis, diffusion problems, Bayes theorem, radiative transfer, the Ising model, and Monte Carlo methods. New examples and exercises have been added throughout.

This book seeks to answer the question “What explains CPT invariance and the spin–statistics connection (SSC)?” These properties play foundational roles in relativistic quantum field theories ...
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This book seeks to answer the question “What explains CPT invariance and the spin–statistics connection (SSC)?” These properties play foundational roles in relativistic quantum field theories (RQFTs), are supported by high-precision experiments, and figure into explanations of a wide range of phenomena, from antimatter, to the periodic table of the elements, to superconductors and superfluids. They can be derived in RQFTs by means of the famous CPT and spin–statistics theorems; but these theorems cannot be said to explain these properties, at least under standard philosophical accounts of scientific explanation. This is because there are multiple, in some cases incompatible, ways of deriving these theorems, and, secondly, because the theorems fail for the types of theories that underwrite the empirical evidence: non-relativistic quantum theories, and realistic interacting RQFTs. The goal of this book is to work toward an understanding of CPT invariance and the SSC by first providing an analysis of the necessary and sufficient conditions for these properties, and second by advocating a particular account of explanation appropriate for this context. Under this account, the explanatory work is done in part by an appeal to intertheoretic relations, and in part by means of a derivation, within a more fundamental theory, of a property expressed in a less fundamental theory.Less

CPT Invariance and the Spin-Statistics Connection

Jonathan Bain

Published in print: 2016-04-01

This book seeks to answer the question “What explains CPT invariance and the spin–statistics connection (SSC)?” These properties play foundational roles in relativistic quantum field theories (RQFTs), are supported by high-precision experiments, and figure into explanations of a wide range of phenomena, from antimatter, to the periodic table of the elements, to superconductors and superfluids. They can be derived in RQFTs by means of the famous CPT and spin–statistics theorems; but these theorems cannot be said to explain these properties, at least under standard philosophical accounts of scientific explanation. This is because there are multiple, in some cases incompatible, ways of deriving these theorems, and, secondly, because the theorems fail for the types of theories that underwrite the empirical evidence: non-relativistic quantum theories, and realistic interacting RQFTs. The goal of this book is to work toward an understanding of CPT invariance and the SSC by first providing an analysis of the necessary and sufficient conditions for these properties, and second by advocating a particular account of explanation appropriate for this context. Under this account, the explanatory work is done in part by an appeal to intertheoretic relations, and in part by means of a derivation, within a more fundamental theory, of a property expressed in a less fundamental theory.

The book provides a self-contained account of deep inelastic scattering (DIS) in high energy physics. It covers the classic results that lead to the quark-parton model of hadrons and the ...
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The book provides a self-contained account of deep inelastic scattering (DIS) in high energy physics. It covers the classic results that lead to the quark-parton model of hadrons and the establishment of quantum chromodynamics (QCD), through to the new vistas in the subject opened up by the electron-proton collider HERA. The extraction of parton momentum distribution functions, a key input for physics at hadron colliders such as the Tevatron and Large Hadron Collider (LHC), is described in detail. The challenges of the HERA data at low-x are described, and possible explanations in terms of gluon dynamics outlined. Other chapters cover: jet production at large momentum transfer and the determination of the strong coupling constant; electroweak probes at very high momentum transfers; the extension of deep inelastic techniques to include hadronic probes; a summary of fully polarised inelastic scattering and the spin structure of the nucleon; and a brief account of methods for searching for signals ‘beyond the standard model’.Less

Deep Inelastic Scattering

Robin DevenishAmanda Cooper-Sarkar

Published in print: 2003-11-20

The book provides a self-contained account of deep inelastic scattering (DIS) in high energy physics. It covers the classic results that lead to the quark-parton model of hadrons and the establishment of quantum chromodynamics (QCD), through to the new vistas in the subject opened up by the electron-proton collider HERA. The extraction of parton momentum distribution functions, a key input for physics at hadron colliders such as the Tevatron and Large Hadron Collider (LHC), is described in detail. The challenges of the HERA data at low-x are described, and possible explanations in terms of gluon dynamics outlined. Other chapters cover: jet production at large momentum transfer and the determination of the strong coupling constant; electroweak probes at very high momentum transfers; the extension of deep inelastic techniques to include hadronic probes; a summary of fully polarised inelastic scattering and the spin structure of the nucleon; and a brief account of methods for searching for signals ‘beyond the standard model’.